The unexpected move will force Tory MPs to back the government, but will make the vote simpler as it will not constitute the prime minister’s approval. “Labour has been given the option of a simple vote of no confidence in the government under convention. However, they chose not to do so,” a government spokesman said. “To remedy this, we are tabling a motion that gives the House an opportunity to decide whether it has confidence in the government. The Government will always make time for the right domestic issues, while ensuring it delivers parliamentary work to help improve people’s everyday lives.” The prime minister’s press secretary later added that Johnson planned to open the debate ahead of Monday’s vote. He insisted Labour’s own motion, including the Commons’ lack of confidence in the Prime Minister, was “not a good use of parliamentary time”. Subscribe to First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every morning at 7am. BST A Labor source said the decision was “madness” and they expected it would backfire. “I’m not sure the Tory leadership candidates or fringe MPs will welcome it,” they said. Labor reacted furiously on Tuesday night when Downing Street refused to give parliament time on the proposal it had tabled. The longstanding convention is that if the leader of the official opposition moves a no-confidence motion, the government allows time for it to be debated and voted on. Tory whips said Labour’s proposal fell outside the scope of the convention identified by Johnson. However, Labor said the motion was voted down by House of Commons clerks. He pointed to the 1965 confidence motion, which mentioned the prime minister.
